He caught bits of their conversation as he resurfaced from
the void of unconsciousness.

The words made no sense to him. Besides, he was too tired to
bother.

The sterile scent of hospital air was thick around him. He
sat up, facing the polished glass window of the dingy hospital room.

A chill ran through his spine. His pulse quickened.

The eyes!The same pale face. As pale as a spectre. A reflection.

He heard himself scream, as if from another dimension.

And then..blackness.

************

Doctors. They told
him hope is the best medicine.

They held endless discourses, urging him to discover his
inner self and face his fears.

What are they talking about, he often thought to himself.
They never seemed to understand that with every growing moment, the fear had
grown with him. Into him.

The fear was him. He was the fear.

************

The rain left him drenched to the core.

But there was something about the sound of splashing rain
that set him free. He kept walking on the wet pavement, rubbing his hands
together to warm his numb fingers.

The street was full of rainwater pools, scattered like
silver polka dots on a dark grey fabric.

His phone beeped. Must be another one of dad's anxious
texts. Dad was always worried, always trying to help. Only he knew that his
situation was beyond any help.

A quite sigh escaped his lips as he took out the phone from
his pocket. Along with the phone, came a coin that landed near his feet with a
cling. He bent down to pick it up. His gaze slipped to a nearby pool.

Too late. The eyes, they had found him once again. The face,
it was as pale as ever.

Every cell in his body screamed. Silently. Agonizingly.

His legs felt like columns of lead, refusing to move as he
willed them to. His teeth were clenched with the effort.

A gust of cold wind blew
across the street. His blood turned to ice in his veins.

And then..blackness.

***********

Years of counselling.

Years of changing medication.

Yet, on every reflective surface, he saw the same pair of
eyes. The same pale face, as pale as a spectre. In that moment of indefinite
terror, he would become the same little boy once again, terrified and alone in
a maze of reflections.

********

“Come closer..do you feel my heartbeat?”

Her face was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

Their faces were close enough to be breathing the same air.Her touch, it made him feel complete.